I just got around to working on a sweater coat for my larger dolls. I started with a grab bag of yarn with lost labels. I believe the purple yarn to be Caron's One Pound brand, because it was large and felt like the usual worsted yarn from the crafts stores. I started out with the idea to make it for my 18" dolls, but decided I need to work on my BJD. I used more than one type of crochet stitch in this design, added pockets and a single large purple heart for the button. I have quite a few single buttons from a trade I made back when everyone was trading old VHS tapes. I used mine to get craft supplies. So the crafts aren't always expensive, but are time consuming.

I tried the sweater on my 23" BJD first and decided she was swallowed up in her sweater coat. Fortunately, I had a 28" Barbie to try it on and she seemed close to the fit.

I added more width to the collar and pockets

The 28" Barbie wears American Girl stuff, but the leggings are capris on her and dresses become tops. The American Girl's John Lennon looking glasses fit and are pretty cool. The AG boot covered the molded shoes on the Barbie. I am not fond of the molded shoes. I do like the doll for dressing and displaying.

Next, I got into play scale dolls called Zeenie dollz, because I liked the stuffed toys and clothes. I thought their fashions would fit my Mozie teenz, but it turns out a few pieces can work with different dolls but not all of them. The Zeenie dollz are on sale at the time of this post on https://www.zeeniedollz.com/

 Left is Liv doll. Liv came to me secondhand. She was wrapped in bubble wrap so tightly I cut her hair trying to get her out. I was really upset. Then it got worse. Liv was one of the "dancing dolls". Her waist swiveled so much, she couldn't sit up straight or hold any kind of a pose. I put a rubberband in her waist and she has been fine ever since. Liv can wear a few of Barbie's things but her feet are bigger. I made her some shoes with craft foam sheets but just lost one of them. Her outfit was made by a seamstress and feels like real wool. The glasses came in a package meant for Barbie from China, but they don't come anywhere close to fitting Barbie. Oh, but what luck, some accessories for the bighead dolls.
Next to Liv is the Zeenie Girlz and their cute toys. Right is Bratzilla. I put Bratzilla's Blythe shoes on her and swapped Bratzilla into the Zeenie Shoes. They fit! I ran and got my Blythe, since shoes for her are pricey. Wow, the shoes and boots fit jointed Blythe to a tee. Zeenie doll on the right is wearing Barbie skirt and coat.

 This photo shows Bratzilla swapped completely with Disney Star Darling in the middle. Blythe is wearing the Zeenie's boots.

 The four dolls in the middle are all Zeenie dollz. The doll next to Barbie is wearing a handmade Barbie dress. Now that I see the dress next to Barbie Style, I realize it is too long for her. I haven't yet managed to get Barbie's jacket off it is so tight. She's wearing her original outfit. I wanted her because I always wanted a jointed Barbie since I was a little girl. It takes the fun out of posing the doll when the clothes don't work so well. Moxie Teenz doll is the tallest. I found that Moxie Teenz are still being sold in some stores, but I am not sure they are like the original dolls. My doll has on a Monique gold wig that can be changed for a different look. Some of the Moxie Teenz have rooted hair.

 The eyes on Zinnie dollz are very realistic looking and they remind of the Pullips.

 My elfin fairy doll is just out to snatch the stuffed animals away. She does wear a few handmade things I got that should have been Barbie stuff. I got a box of doll clothes all handmade and have been trying out things on all the dolls.

 Zeenie doll's top is too small for Moxie but she can wear loosely what Moxie wears.

 Moxie doll is wearing Zeenie leggings and socks. There's a naked doll on the right, screaming for help because one of the girls stole all her clothes.

I haven't watched any of the Zinnie dollz video. I am just too impatient. I do love that they are Eco Warriers.

The Zeenie dollz boxes are nice and can be used to store the doll. The box didn't end up being torn all to pieces trying to get the doll out is what I am saying. I tried a couple of dolls for my crochet and crafts and almost cried at the horrifying packaging. 

The posing for the dolls is a bit awkward. I found this to be true with Style Barbie at first. I just keep working with them and they work. Sometimes it is just the clothes are too tight. Zeenies lower leg is much longer than Barbie, so she will need her own furniture set for sure in the future. Maybe I'll be able to make her something.

 My elfin fairy couldn't wait to get the toy animals. She is really into the cause for animals too.

Will the frog eat the parrot? Hmm...

I have always wanted a fairy doll. I just recently got a 10" fairy doll and she is adorable. I looked around for a brand spanking new one, which would have probably cost less, but I just fell in love with this doll's face. She looks like a little lost fairy who wants so much to be a real girl. It is amazing that she can use some Barbie props and some barbie clothes too. I modeled her with a blue and white seamstress dress made for Barbies, Delilah Noir shoes and wig, and Blythe socks. This doll is discontinued from 5stardoll. I got her secondhand with several wigs and accessories. It is just so relaxing to dress her and crochet for her. I love to place dolls near me and just glance at their cute expressions occasionally. 

Next I tried some handmade overalls for Barbie. Some of the fashions will go up over her hips but won't fasten at the waist. I found a denim pair made by a seamstress that fit snugly. The shoes came with her. 

As soon as I dressed her, she began to explore her new place. She found my secret jewels in a box from the Ural Mountains of Russia. The serpent is guarding the jewels, but she isn't concerned at all. Since she is an elf doll, magic is just so mundane. She says "are you a fairy too? You have some magical stones. Oh, when are you going to make me some too? I would love to please have some jewels. Please?"  

So far, she thinks her new place is pretty cool. 

Over the Holiday weekends I got to make a few dolly things. I bought a box of mill end threads a few years ago and have made lots of things from it. When I get down to a very small amount I make doll things with the rest. I love making my own sweaters, hats and scarfs.
The first doll to try on the new sweater coat is a re-wigged porcelain Effner Mary Contrary doll. I really love the Effner dolls. I have special ordered a 13" manufactured Effner from https://maruandfriends.com/ If I had time to do this type of work professionally, I would order one of her more expensive hand painted dolls. They are truly a work of art. For now, I am just a weekender.

I got a new Paola Reina doll for Christmas. I really liked the tiny size of the doll. She shouldn't take too much thread.  I opened her box and she was much prettier than the photos. Her clothes and shoes were very high quality. The box was nice also. I couldn't help but want to make her warm as soon as possible. The poor girl looked like she would freeze in this weather with nothing but a tutu outfit and some tights.

The dolls don't take a lot of thread but the small size is definitely fiddly and frustrating to make for when I get to the smallest details.

I crocheted her a hat and scarf, using lichen and ashes colored rayon chenille. 

The next pictures show Paola Reina Los Amigas doll wearing this set.

I later hand washed and sized all the clothes to insure dyes won't bleed onto the dolly skin and the fit will be just right after the wash.

The doll's sweater coat is made, using teal and chili colored rayon chenille. The coat was made on a Paola Reina Los Amigas doll, but fits many others. It fits Tonner Tyler and Delilah Noir fashion dolls. It fits Goodreau's MIM dolls.

 The next picture shows how the same outfit fits Goodreau's MIM doll. Goodreau's MIM doll is so lively looking as far as posing goes. Her skin color is very pale almost sickly looking.  I really would like to have her some more shoes. So far, it seems none of the doll's shoes fit her.

This next picture shows how it fits Delilah Noir 16" fashion doll. This doll seriously needs re-stringing with elastic. She was not very expensive but that I think was the reason. I really like BJDs but don't want a huge collection of them for that very reason. It seems they require some maintenance over the years. 

The next doll is Tonner Tyler. She looks good in this. Tyler is an 16" fashion doll but slim like a Barbie. She holds poses well. 

My First Handmade Log Cabin Dollhouse

12-10-16
I got some micro lights from the Black Friday sales this week (finally). I think weather conditions delayed the shipment. I have never seen micro lights before, so this was better than candy for me.
It was a very tedious job, but I wound them around my log cabin dollhouse I built last spring. I started out with just a boring old house but added a porch and swing, and now Christmas lights. I found some super tiny tinsel and blinking Christmas trees at the Dollar Store that is great for 12th scale dollhouse decor.

I have a pink 12th scale Christmas tree for sale!